Brunson's Homer Pushes REX Past Mill Rats

PHOTO: Phil Andraychak

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A three-run home run by Alec Brunson in the top of the seventh inning provided the difference as the Terre Haute Rex defeated the Johnstown Mill Rats 4-1 in Prospect League action on Tuesday night.

Mill Rats starter Christian Hack quickly retired the first two hitters of the seventh inning before giving up a single to Will Eger. Hack was then removed due to approaching the pitch count limit in favor of reliever Sean Casteel.

Terre Haute's next batter, Parks Bouck, doubled to left field off of Casteel to put two runners in scoring position before Brunson launched a long ball over the screen in left field to put the Rex ahead.

Rex relievers Jacob Young and Garrett McClain, who earned the save, pitched two scoreless frames to keep the Mill Rats at bay. Jared Spencer claimed the win after allowing one run on just two hits over seven innings. Spencer walked two and struck out six.

Spencer's lone run allowed came in the bottom of the second inning when Justin Kapuscinski tripled off the wall in center field and was brought home by a Chase Cromer sacrifice fly. A Lukas Torres double in the seventh inning was the lone other Johnstown hit in the contest.

Hack took the loss for the Mill Rats after throwing 6 2⁄3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Bouck, Brunson, Mason White and Kade Lassen each tallied two hits for the Rex. Brunson drove in all four of Terre Haute's runs, with his fifth-inning RBI single tying the game before his home run.

Johnstown (7-12) will host Terre Haute (12-7) for the final contest of their two-game series on Wednesday at 12 p.m.